Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Some people are simply gifted. Things just come naturally to them. The rest of us have to work as hard as we can to keep up. But that’s exactly what we need to do. When I first applied to write for The Kansan, I knew I would have to renew my commitment to writing. The people on staff were obviously more gifted than I, so I would have to work twice as hard to be as good as them. And anyone who knows me knows this would not be so easy.
People who simply have natural talent often discourage me. I read their work — the Rick Reillys, the Mitch Alboms — and think I could never be that good. But that’s wrong. When someone does something better than us, their accomplishments should inspire us to strive to be better, to try harder, to not settle for being just another person who shrugs his shoulders before giving up. Whether in your field of study, in pick up games at the rec center, hell, even in beer pong, you should want to be the best or better than you ever thought possible. (Maybe beer pong is a stretch, but you gotta begin somewhere.)
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I marveled at the way everything was put together. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be a part of a publication like that.
I began as a writer on my community college newspaper, a biweekly publication with very few staff members. I became editor-in-chief in addition to writing sports, news and commentary about anything that struck me. Ideas weren’t hard to come by for these commentaries. I simply sat down and wrote about the first thing that came to mind. I thought it was that easy. And it was.
Then I came to the University. I thought I was the best writer on staff when I was in Garden City. But I used to read The Kansan regularly and was in awe of what the stuff writers would think of. I marveled at the way everything was put together. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be a part of a publication like that.
Now here I sit, writing my first column for The Kansan. Anticipations and expectations run wild through my head. I know good columnists write for a purpose. They write with their audience in mind, hoping their message will affect someone in some way. I realize my audience members probably won’t change their lives in response to the words that appear under my name. I can promise, however, that every time I write, I believe I’m working toward communicating something greater than myself. I write with the intent that I might be able to make a difference. And as someone who comes from a small town in New Mexico, writing for The Kansan is what I am doing to get out of my comfort zone and move toward being the best writer I can be.
I realize it can be daunting when you see someone better than you think you ever can be; however, don’t look at his or her talent as a threat, but as an opportunity. An opportunity to work harder and better yourself, because you never know when you’ll be the person others are looking to for inspiration.
— Lucero is a Farmington, N.M., junior in journalism.
Mersmann: Honest facts about writing this column
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Comments
Lucero: Step out of box is a leap into something new
Great article. Keep it up and look forward to more of the same.
Lucero: Step out of box is a leap into something new
Bravo! Cant wait for more!
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